Foreign Relations of the United States, 1958–1960, Western European Integration and Security, Canada, Volume VII, Part 1

288. Memorandum of Conversation⁰

PVC/MC–6

Ottawa, July 10, 1958, 4 p.m.

PRESIDENT’s VISIT TO CANADA Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, July 8–11, 1958

PARTICIPANTS

• United States
  • The Secretary
  • Tyler Thompson, Minister, Embassy
  • Joseph N. Greene, Jr.
• Canada
  • The Secretary of State for External Affairs Sidney Smith
  • The Minister of Northern Affairs Alvin Hamilton
  • The Deputy Minister of Northern Affairs R.G. Robertson
  • The Undersecretary of State for External Affairs Jules Léger
  • The Assistant Undersecretary of State for External Affairs D.V. LePan
  • The Chief of the American Division of the Department of External Affairs Harrison Cleveland

SUBJECT

• Columbia River Development

Following a few introductory remarks by Mr. Smith, the Secretary stated that the United States Government was eager to solve the problems connected with the Columbia River and asked what progress the Canadians had made.

Mr. Hamilton stated that there were two engineering reports still outstanding: one being prepared by the Province of British Columbia; and the other by the Department of Northern Affairs. There was also an economic report under preparation which would be ready for submission to the Cabinet Committee in approximately two weeks time. This study goes into the economic feasibility of various alternative proposals.

With respect to the Embassy’s Aide-Mémoire on the Libby Dam, Mr. Hamilton stated that the Canadian reply was ready and would be delivered in a few days.¹ In summary, he said, the reply was to the effect that more realistic offers must be made before negotiations were possible.

He stated that the Canadians were proud of General McNaughton and that he had already saved the Columbia River for Canada once. He explained that the Canadian Section of the International Joint Commission was not a policy arm of the Canadian Government but was a judicial body.

Mr. Hamilton stated that Canada could not separate the Libby Dam question from the entire Columbia River issue and stated that similarly the United States would not separate the St. John River from the general question of waterways crossing the boundary.

Mr. Hamilton expressed some concern over the fact that the engineering reports were due in November of this year, a time when this question might be a particularly acute political issue in the northwest states. Under the circumstances he thought that the best initial approach to the problem would be to discuss the economic rather than the political and power aspects. He assured the Secretary that the Canadian Government was moving as rapidly as the necessary engineering studies could be completed.

With respect to the techniques of handling the Columbia River issue, Mr. Hamilton stated that parts of the problem might be handled by a reference to the International Joint Commission and parts through normal diplomatic channels.

Mr. Thompson confirmed that the United States’ acceptance of the Canadian proposal of last year with respect to the establishment of Canadian-United States groups to study the Columbia development problem was still good. (Embassy Note August 1957)²

Mr. Hamilton stated that Canada was faced with the problem of reducing transportation costs to the Yukon and Alaska and referred to the problem of coastal shipping. He stated that there was growing pressure for better communications to the north.

The Secretary referred to Senator Neuberger’s proposal for the joint financing of paving the Alean highway. The Secretary stated that this was discussed in the meeting that morning with the Prime Minister and that it seemed to him that such an act by the Congress without prior consultation might appear to impose conditions on Canada and should result from negotiation.

0. Source: Eisenhower Library, Staff Secretary Records, DDE Canada Memcons. Confidential. Prepared by Thompson. The meeting was held at the Department of External Affairs.
1. A copy of the U.S. aide-mémoire, dated April 24, was transmitted as an enclosure to despatch 965 from Ottawa, May 2. (Department of State, Central Files, 611.42321–LI/5–258) The Canadian reply, dated July 16, was transmitted as an enclosure to despatch 85 from Ottawa, July 29. (ibid., 611.42321–LI/7–2958)
2. Not found in Department of State files.